if you could have one of these three?

I've been looking at too many skimmers and I just need to settle on one. sounds easy right?? My new system is a total of about 150-160g. I plan on doing a fair amount of fish and corals.. If you had your choice for free to pick one of the following, which would it be?

asm g2 w/ sedra
swc extreme 160
reef octopus 160

Feel free to leave suggestions also.. Just have an argument to back it up..

Thanks for your help

 

swc extreme 160

Coloradoreef is the distributor and a 3reef member/sponsor

 

I just got a 160 based on the reputation it has.

 

I have a G2/Sedra 5k and can't say enough wonderful things about it, it skims coffee out of my tank, wonderful foam, set it and forget it...

Honestly, I think that you'll be fine either way. All of those are good brands with their own followers. I've also been very happy with Reef Octopus products, had a hang on back skimmer that was fantastic!

 

Thanks for the advice. One more question, if you had the chance to get a used aquac ec-240 USED for $180, without pump, would you choose that over the other brand new units? I guess my worry is wear and tear but is there really any wear on parts other than the pump?

 

no, it's a great skimmer but by the time you get a pump for it your better off with one of the newer skimmers and their updated designs.

 

Generally, a skimmer is a plastic tube. The difference is the shape and size. Height/width/etc which vary widely. A plastic tube that's treated reasonably well will not wear out during your lifetime with just water and air running through it. It CAN have gunk and yucky stuff build up on the inside which sometimes can't be cleaned at all (and sometimes is really hard to clean). If the tube gets too gunked it can interfere with the skimmers operation (causing the bubbles to break too early, thus not raising the yuck to the top etc)

The pump is another story. In my experience, the life of a standard pump is generally about 3-5 years before at the minimum you need to replace the impeller, because otherwise the performance of a pump begins to decrease even with proper maintenance (and who really does that? ) The Impeller is the major moving part inside the pump, but I've also had pumps motors burn out at the worst times, the pump cords break/get broken and so I now always keep a spare on hand. Pumps DO wear, and used equipment has no warranty at all.

In other words, if you buy a skimmer used, PLAN to replace the impeller (You can bet the last owner didn't), and when you're considering the price, consider if it would still be a good price if you had to replace the pump entirely 2 months after buying it because the pump burned out.

Personally, when sizing a skimmer for a tank, I also go for a size rating about 2x my ACTUAL water volume, minimum. You want to get the LARGEST skimmer that will fit on your tank, even if that means saving up a few extra weeks. The two places you do NOT want to skimp when it comes to a reef tank are the skimmer, and the lighting. Your skimmer is your main source of filtration. I have NO cotton in my tank at all. None. My tank runs on biological filtration and an ASM G2 skimmer upgraded with a Sedra 5k skimmer, because that's the largest skimmer that will physically fit in my sump and under my stand. No canister filters or pads or socks. Years later my tank is quite lovely and I get all kinds of compliments on it My nitrates went DOWN when I took the cotton out, too.

I can't speak for the brand though. No experience with Aqua-C skimmers.

 

I Just got my SWC 160 Cone and i love it!!Very Quiet!! Nasty Skimmate!!
I Have tried all three skimmers...
IMO Reef octopus is a great skimmer and works about the same as SWC! (slightly more foam head turbulance) but very quiet and efficient. I have owned Both ASM and Euro reef skimmers that utilize the sedra pumps... They are very loud and bulky! also after 2 years of use i got a rust ball (size of a quarter) that started to grow in the sedra pumps (Both Pumps), and caused major issues in my tank... I wouldnt reccomend the Aqua c skimmers either as they are even Louder and the injectoir gets clogged all the time and causes fluctuations.

I hope this helps...


Matt

 

I agree on the Euro Reef Skimmers. I had one for the first year or so I had my tank, and I had NOTHING but problems with it. The skimmate was always either really thin or nonexistent, and then with no warning it would start massively overflowing. Switched to an ASM, couldn't be happier.

I've never had the rust problem with the sedras. I've used them for 4 years. Sedras are bulky, but I don't have a problem with the noise. In fairness, that could be because of my Little Giant return pump drowning it out But outside of my small stand, I can't hear my skimmer even with that return off.

 

I think I've decided on the reef octopus. The extreme 200 or maybe the new super reef 2000. Will decide tonight for sure.... I think.... Only reason not swc they don't make a 200g and the 250g is a huge jump in price.